You're Quite A Buffalo

A summer in Utah calls for a trip to the Great Salt Lake. There's no better way to experience the Salt Lake than a trip to Antelope Island: the largest island in the Salt Lake measuring about 42 sq miles. The island was settled in 1845 and got its name when some Antelope were slain. It was later used by the LDS church's tithing herd. Birgham Young asked the island settlers to take care of the church's livestock, which was used for the saints traveling west. THe island was also used to preserve animals in danger or who were dying off - like BYSON (much like buffalo). 12 Wild Byson were placed on the island in the later 1800s and they have since populated themselves into a vast 700. They roam the island in herds, young and old, in the prairie like fields and mountains.

Devin and I took a short but adventure packed trip to Antelope Island and now I am highly recommending it to everyone I meet - even strangers. The drive alone to the island is an up close and gorgeous view of the Salt Lake - it smelled somewhat like home with the aroma of low tide fish. As we started driving along the one-way-in/one-way-out road, bugs instantly began splattering the windshield.

We drove straight to the visitor's center to get an idea of what the island had to offer, all while getting a glimpse of the island's history. To be honest with you, the visitor's center employees/park rangers had no good information and had no idea what we should see or do. We headed to the first beachy spot to eat lunch and to excitedly (that's me excitedly, not Devin excitedly) walk on the "beach." (I am really missing the beach). I got into the Salt Lake for my first, and not last, time. It didn't smell, but there was enough salt for my ankle scrapes to start stinging. When I got out and my legs dried, they were covered in salt - my whole body tasted and smelled like salt (this means I licked my arms to check).

After our little beach rendezvous (hows that for french Elise?) we were on the search for Buffalo. I had never seen a buffalo, so it was quite necessary to spot one. As we drove around, straining our eyes to see a herd off in the distance, the only thing we got was a gas light. We stopped at a spot Devin fondly remembered - a grove of trees where a family reunion once took place. It was actually the site where the settlers lived. A clay brick house stood extremely well preserved, filled with original artifacts: washing machine, sewing machine, dishes, books, rope beds, curtain rod hooks in the form of bent silverware (very innovative!), etc. A very kind and crazy looking older man gave us a tour of the home and directed us to the grove of trees to look for the tree climbing porcupine (we never saw it). After returning from the grove we asked him if he knew where the 700 buffalo were. He said most of them were around the other side of the mountain, but at the end of a nearby dirt road we could find about 200 of them... so we headed off!

At the very start of our dirt road journey we spotted a 75 year old woman returning from her walk. She stopped on the road not to far ahead of us, took of her shirt, stood for a while in only her bra, and then put it back on and continued towards us. I found this very unusual and funny and it automatically made me uncomfortable to walk by her. We asked if she saw any buffalo, to which she replied - I don't speak good english, and kept walking. Keep on keepin on.

We passed a few more people - who kept their clothes on - who told us the buffalo were about 45 minutes down the road on a hill. YES!

Finally, after walking down the long, straight and narrow, dirt road (we passed the time by talking about hot and cold air particles and the things they make happen: hot air balloons and suction cups) we saw our prize - an entire herd of buffalo - babies and all! We off roaded up onto the hill to get closer. Off course, like cows, the closer you get, the farther they get. We kept getting closer and closer and eventually they started running away from us, but then more towards our direction circling around the bottom of the hill (that we were now on top of) and onto the road we needed to get to. Of course, it started to freak me out bc it was 200 running beasts, pounding and rumbling the ground beneath us, leaving me remembering the stampede scene from Lion King. I prayed, running in the opposite direction, and we ended up perfectly fine. They just ran away and up towards the mountain - they were much more scared of us than I was of them. With all that said, I got some buffalo hair from the ground and we got a ride back to the car from our kind and crazy-looking older tour guide friend.

The trip to Antelope island was a success. A dip in the Salt Lake, a beach picnic lunch, sightings of wild beasts, and a run on the wild side. I never knew I loved buffalo until the day I went to Antelope Island.

Oh ya! When I took my now filthy TOMS off in the car to air out my always filthy feet, I noticed the most appropriate silhouette in my shoe! This turned into a song: "buffalo shoes, buffalo shoes, I never knew I wore buffalo shoes." So clever.